"Darling", the newest collection of wedding dresses from fashion house Galia Lahav's ready-to-wear label GALA, is a celebration of the modern woman in love with a touch of fun inspired by the bold, young actresses - the Hollywood darlings. Going a la Carry Bradshaw and her fabulous friends' style, these 16 dresses are an elegant bohemian extension of the Galia Lahav "Iconic" couture collection for "the non-apologetic, free-spirited bride who wears what she wants," says head designer Sharon Sever. "She is brave and less influenced by others' opinions; she is the one who influences with her style and confidence. If she wants to be a princess bride, she'll wear her dream ball gown, and if she wants a red carpet look, she'll go full glam."

Created with luxe silks, bold hand-beaded embellishments, delicate laces and soft fabrics, the "Darling" collection explores the best of 2023 bridal trends. It delivers them in featherlight ball gowns, cheeky cutouts, sultry figure-hugging gowns and dreamy A-lines. Here is a close look at all our favourite 2023 bridal fashion week trends that this glammed-up collection holds.

HIGH NECKLINES

Inspired by regal wedding dresses from Grace Kelly, Princess of Wales, Lady Kitty Spencer and celebrities like Ellie Goulding and Paris Hilton, high necklines have become a bridal staple for 2023 brides. Remi is the show-stopping mermaid dress sporting this stunning feature with a placement coverage of sparkling beaded lace trailing all over the form-fitting silhouette. The tailored sleeves and a pearl border open keyhole back add sophistication to the already-regal dress. 

FINE FEATHERS 

Feathers add a touch of chic fun to evening wear while still retaining elegance in the outfit. They appear in iconic Hollywood outfits throughout the ages and are increasingly used to adding a dash of flirty to bridal outfits. This year, bridal designers have embraced feather inspiration and applied it as a highlight of youthful fun to their designs. Terry, with her statement asymmetrical neckline, sexy high slit and one-sleeve style, is a must-try for the daring fashionista bride. The glitzy trails of crystals beading lead to a hem of layered feathers is the perfect blend of old Hollywood glamour and classy flirtation. 

For the brides who are in love with the trails of glamourous beadwork combined with feathers but want a more classic Hollywood look, Lisa, with her fitted silhouette and the straight-across neckline, is the one to try. Its above-the-ankle-length hemline and back split makes it the perfect dress for garden-party-styled weddings and brides who want more freedom of movement on the dance floor. 

ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY

The red carpet "naked dress" has now blossomed to take the word "sheer" to daring new heights. While it may not be the dress for a church wedding, and many could come with warning labels about making your grandparents faint, these sexy bridal dresses are perfect for the confidently adventurous bride. They are fun statement options for that after-party/reception dress. If a sultry lingerie-styled bridal gown is on order, we recommend trying on an A-line dress Kai. Created with a sheer french lace topped with a flowy layer of tulle decoratively pleated to frame the neckline, this dress and her exposed boning elevates the classic romantic touch of a wedding dress to a new level of peek-a-boo sexy. 

If floral french lace is not quite your thing, but you still want the french romantic look, Gene, with her nostalgic blend of flocked polka dot tulle and classy pearl embellished shoulder straps, is the sheer dress for you. This modern A-line dress comes with a V-crisscross draped corset that is flirtily chic for an outdoor beach, garden or cocktail wedding. 

For the bride who is into the upgraded sheer but wants something slightly more figure-hugging, the mermaid-fit Jax gown could be your answer. We adore the combination of glass beaded net fabric with highlights of sparkle tulle drape detail at the corset. This dress will catch the sunlight and the spotlight while showing a cheeky glimpse of the bride's figure. 

LONG SLEEVES 

Sleeves have slowly evolved to become a popular design feature over the past few years. They have now developed this season from the original short lengths to being long, ballooned and, at times, fully detached. The Jae satin ballgown with her detached sheer illusion sleeves framed by satin stripe detailing is a bold stand-out of this collection. While we love the geometrical exposed cutout on the corseted strapless bodice and side of the satin skirt, the sleeves are the star feature that finishes the whole look with a regal modern flare. 

For the bride looking for a boho gypsy wedding dress, the faux two-piece Joy ballgown is a must-try. Like a gown straight out of a fairytale, this layered tulle dress with a french guipure lace bra corset top and matching lace high-waistband is a one-of-a-kind whimsical style. Add the ballooning lace trimmed off-the-shoulder sleeves, and you have a romance-filled chic dress ready to star at any bohemian wedding. 

Mona is a nod to the signature GALA by Galia Lahav dress with her delicate french lace, figure-hugging mermaid fit, v-plunging neckline and low back. Adding a feminine fitted sleeve with 3D embroidered chrysanthemum flowers crawling up and over to cover the sultry dress bodice gives what would have been a soft-spoken dress a dose of boldness. For those who want to add more drama and get two looks out of one dress, we recommend pairing this dress with a matching tulle skirt.

ALL BOWED UP 

Bows are a stand-out commodity on the 2023 bridal runways. Unlike last season where every bow was under the mentality of "go big or go home", bows have been adapted for use in every size this season. In the "Darling" collection, the head designers have used this feature on the most beach-babe-worthy dress Dean. This nonchalant A-line dress features a bra-styled cut-out corset, a swirling skirt with sexy high slits and off-the-shoulder ribbons tied in the most relaxing bows. It's the perfect dress for the bride who wants an unconventional, light wedding dress with maximum allowance for movement.

DRESS IN SLIP 

Bridal designers dived back into the '90s and landed on a mutual love of slip dresses. The slip dress is all about effortless glamour and is perfect for the bride who wants something classically sophisticated and sexy but not too revealing. This GALA by Galia Lahav bridal collection took a more contemporary take on the slip dress with Dia. This minimalist crepe dress flaunts a cheeky low back framed with delicate beading and a satin cowl drape. It is perfect for brides who love dresses that are all about back features. 

FLORAL-TASTIC

Florals have long been a classic match for wedding dresses, but this season, designers have started to take what is usually a decorative pattern into a starring statement feature instead. Take Lee dress with her stunning 3D floral bouquets. This sheer A-line dress with a sultry V plunge and low back showcases the florals as a feature. The sheerness of the wedding dress makes it seem like a wedding bouquet is dressing the bride. It is the perfect dress for the daring bride who loves a modern and sexy twist to her garden wedding. 

For the floral-loving bride who wants a more clean-cut contemporary A-line dress, we highly recommend Holly with her delicate embroidered florals and shimmering organza lining. This whimsical strapless corset dress also comes with a side slit for a touch of cheeky fun. 

TAKE IT OFF-THE-SHOULDER

It's feminine and adds a romantic touch, so the off-the-shoulder trend is here to stay. For the bride who wants a mix of the floral statement trend and a comfortable off-the-shoulder feature that stays in place, look no further than the Demi ballgown. The soft tulle dress has some stunning tricklings of beaded floral lace appliques and comes with illusion cap sleeves built with the corset top giving the look of off-the-shoulder straps without the restrictive discomfort and the fiddling that comes with an off-the-should strap. 

A popular look this season is the combination of a scooped neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. In this "Darling" collection, Galia has included a modernized ballgown with this feature. The Dee wedding gown is a chic romantic swirl featuring a geometric illusion plunge corset top and a romantically gathered skirt made from a sparkly checkered tulle. It's a perfect choice for the modern bride who wants a sweet whimsical gown for her "I do". 

Eternal Bridal is excited to welcome Gala by Galia Lahav's "Darling" ready-to-wear bridal dress collection and Galia Lahav's 'Iconic' Haute Couture wedding dress collection to our Galia Lahav trunk show in February and March 2023. Be one of the first Australian brides to try on gowns from Galia Lahav's brand new FW23 "Darling" and "Iconic" collections, complemented by a selection of spectacular bridal gowns from past collections. To register or for more information, click here.